Avera Medical Minute: How clinical trials help in cancer research [Video]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Cancer clinical trials can be another option for patients going through their own cancer journey. By being part of one of the trials, you can help researchers determine if new therapies and medications are effective. In this Avera Medical Minute, we hear from one patient who participated in a clinical trial.

After receiving a diagnosis of tongue cancer, Avera patient Ken Vanorny says there are three things that have helped him through his cancer journey.

“Prayer, positive attitude and I work at St. Lawrence Catholic School. I kept working over there. Some days, I would be kind of depressed. ‘This is tough.’ But I’d see these kids in the hallways, and they were smiling and would say hi and give me cards — that just boosted me so much. It was amazing,” said Vanorny.

When Ken started his treatment for cancer, he was …