Mount Sinai Launches Peer Support for Cancer Trial Patients

Deciding whether to join a cancer clinical trial can feel overwhelming, but patients at Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center no longer have to face that choice alone.

The hospital has partnered with Cancer Hope Network to launch PATHS (Peer Access to Trials, Hope and Support), a program connecting cancer patients with trained volunteer mentors who are survivors or caregivers themselves. These mentors offer one-on-one guidance to anyone navigating treatment, survivorship, or considering clinical trials.

Clinical trials test new cancer treatments before they reach the public, giving patients access to cutting-edge care. But fear, mistrust, and confusion often keep people from participating, even when trials could offer their best chance at effective treatment.

That's where peer support makes all the difference. Speaking with someone who has actually been through a clinical trial can turn abstract medical jargon into relatable, human experience.

"Clinical trials are critical to advancing cancer care, but too often patients feel unsure or hesitant about participating," said Dr. Karyn Goodman, Associate Director of Network Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center. "Peer support can play a powerful role in bridging that gap, giving patients the confidence, perspective, and information they need."

The program builds on Cancer Hope Network's proven mentorship model, which has helped cancer patients for years. Mount Sinai patients and volunteers can now train to become peer mentors themselves, many having participated in clinical trials and eager to guide others through similar decisions.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership does more than help individual patients make informed choices. By breaking down barriers to clinical trial participation, PATHS addresses broader health disparities that have long affected who gets access to innovative treatments.

The program supports patients considering trials for breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, and other cancers. Each mentor provides not just medical insights but emotional support during one of life's most challenging journeys.

"This collaboration ensures that more individuals are connected to someone who truly understands what they're going through," said Beth Blakey, CEO of Cancer Hope Network. The first group of mentors is currently completing training and will soon join a national network of volunteers ready to offer compassionate guidance.

When patients have someone who understands their fears and can answer their questions from lived experience, clinical trials become less intimidating and more accessible to everyone who could benefit.