Blue Ridge Cancer Care Recognized by ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation

 

Roanoke, Va. (June 24, 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, announced today that it is one of only six community oncology practices in the country recognized by the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for its commitment to high-quality clinical trial programs. As a recipient of the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO Clinical Trials Participation Award, BRCC is being honored for its contribution to the improvement of cancer care through clinical research in a community-based setting.

 

“Our main goal at Blue Ridge Cancer Care is to provide our patients with the best possible care available,” said Paul Richards, MD, oncologist with BRCC. “We believe offering cutting-edge clinical trials in our community is critical in achieving that goal. A significant percentage of our patients are participating in cancer clinical trials. We are honored to have been chosen for this award.”

 

Practices were selected to receive the award based on several different criteria, which emphasize high patient accrual in clinical trials by overcoming barriers to enrollment. In 2014, more than 100 patients enrolled in clinical trials at Blue Ridge Cancer Care, and ongoing trials continue to further this commitment to high-quality research in many different disease types. Preference was also given to practices with clinical trial programs that serve and connect with underrepresented populations in their communities.

 

“The Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology is pleased to recognize Blue Ridge Cancer Care with the Clinical Trials Participation Award for providing local patients with access to high-quality clinical research that will help achieve groundbreaking advancements in cancer care,” said W. Charles Penley, MD, FASCO, Chair of the Conquer Cancer Foundation Board of Directors. 

 

Blue Ridge Cancer Care provides comprehensive and cutting-edge services including medical oncology, hematology, genetic risk assessment and clinical research. For more than 35 years, Blue Ridge Cancer Care has developed a model for care that maximizes patient and family convenience, providing a strong emphasis on ensuring patients and caregivers receive the physical and emotional support that they need. Working as an independent practice allows BRCC physicians the freedom to tailor care to each patient's unique diagnosis. With one of the largest and most active clinical research programs in Southwest Virginia, Blue Ridge Cancer Care offers Phase I-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.

 

The Clinical Trials Participation Award is funded through the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO with the generous support of the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups, which has supported the award since it was established in 2003.

 

For more information regarding clinical trial participation at Blue Ridge Cancer Care, please contact Natasha Holt at 540-982-0237, or visit www.blueridgecancercare.com for a complete list of available clinical trials.

 

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 ten 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.

 

About the Conquer Cancer Foundation

 

The Conquer Cancer Foundation (CCF) was created by the world’s foremost cancer doctors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology to seek dramatic advances in the prevention, treatment and cures of all types of cancer. Toward the vision of a world free from the fear of cancer, CCF works to conquer this disease by funding breakthrough cancer research and sharing cutting-edge knowledge with patients and physicians worldwide, and by improving quality of care and access to care, enhancing the lives of all who are touched by cancer.  For more information, visit www.conquercancerfoundation.org.