About Us

Blue Ridge Cancer Care brings radiation clinical trials to patients in Southwest Virginia

4/09/2015

Roanoke, Va. (April 7, 2015) – Blue Ridge Cancer Care (BRCC), a 19-physician privately-owned practice specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and an affiliate of The US Oncology Network, recently announced it is now offering radiation clinical trials to cancer patients in Southwest Virginia. These advanced radiation-focused clinical trials give cancer patients access to cutting-edge therapies that could potentially increase cure rates and improve quality of life while providing the opportunity to participate in the development of future treatments. The trials are a collaborative effort among BRCC, NRG Oncology and US Oncology Research. BRCC is currently conducting several radiation clinical trials at the Carilion Clinic Cancer Center where eligible patients are now being enrolled.
 
“Very few cancer centers in the country offer these cutting-edge radiation trials,” said David Buck, M.D., radiation oncologist at Blue Ridge Cancer Care. “Bringing these innovative trials to our practice provides us with a whole new level of advanced, experimental treatment options we can offer our patients, while allowing them to receive these investigational treatments in their hometown, close to their family and friends in a comfortable, outpatient setting.”
 
With the addition of these novel trials, BRCC’s presence is expanding in Southwest Virginia, providing referring physicians the opportunity to send their patients to a facility closer to the patient’s home. Urologists will be especially interested in the new radiation trials being offered, as many promising trials for prostate cancer are currently available and others are in development.
 
With one of the largest and most active clinical research programs in Southwest Virginia, Blue Ridge Cancer Care offers Phase II, III and IV clinical trials through its affiliation with US Oncology Research, one of the nation’s largest networks of community-based cancer investigators and clinical staff. 
 
By collaborating with US Oncology Research and NRG Oncology, Blue Ridge Cancer Care can offer patients some of the most advanced radiotherapy trials in the nation, further expanding and enhancing its extensive research program. Supported by the expertise of US Oncology Research, BRCC also has access to comprehensive protocols, procedures and guidelines to help ensure that patient safety and quality assurance remain top priorities during these novel treatments.
 
The leader in radiation oncology-focused clinical trials in the United States, NRG Oncology is a key clinical research partner of the American College of Radiology and serves as a multi-institutional clinical cooperative group funded primarily by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). US Oncology Research is a full member of NRG Oncology and the largest member of its kind in offering radiation clinical trials to patients in a community setting.
 
“Many technological innovations are emerging in radiation oncology that can potentially enhance care and help patients achieve optimal outcomes,” Dr. Buck noted. “These advanced trials investigating new treatment options can provide benefits to patients who participate and also give us a way to evaluate how well the treatments work so others may benefit.”
 
About Blue Ridge Cancer Care
Blue Ridge Cancer Care (BRCC) is an independent private practice of 19 physicians specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and blood disorders. BRCC’s nine convenient locations throughout the southwest region of Virginia provide comprehensive and cutting-edge cancer care closer to where patients live. BRCC provides a number of services and treatments including medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology, genetic risk assessment and clinical research. BRCC physicians have trained at prestigious medical schools and have developed a model for care that maximizes patient and family convenience. BRCC’s team provides the optimal physician and emotional support for cancer patients and their caregivers, realizing that each cancer diagnosis is different and each treatment plan should be too.
 
Blue Ridge Cancer Care is united in healing with The US Oncology Network, one of the nation’s largest networks of integrated community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. As an affiliate of The US Oncology Network, BRCC is united with 1,000 physicians nationwide. Blue Ridge Cancer Care participates in clinical trials through US Oncology Research, which has played a role in more than 50 FDA-approved cancer therapies, nearly one-third of all cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.
 
Media Contacts
Alan Repasky
Blue Ridge Cancer Care
(540) 982-0237
Alan.Repasky@usoncology.com 
 
Claire Crye
US Oncology Research
(281) 825-9927
Claire.Crye@usoncology.com