MILWAUKEE— Liver cancer is known as one of the top ten leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC).
The Milwaukee Veterans Affairs (VA) is helping to play a role in changing that statistic.
Research is a big part of Dr. Jeff Whittle’s career. He’s been with the Milwaukee VA for over 30 years and is the director of health services research.
“We are learning how to best treat the next generation of veterans,” Dr. Jeff Whittle said.
Dr. Whittle is now a part of the nation’s largest liver cancer screening research study.
The study is being done by 47 VA medical centers across the country, including at the Milwaukee VA.
The goal is to find out if it’s more effective to use MRI technology rather than ultrasound in patients with Cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is liver scarring that is caused by many different conditions.
“We know that that will allow us to find this form of liver cancer earlier. What we don’t know is if it’s enough earlier than the ultrasound,” Dr. Whittle said.
The study will take on nearly 5,000 veterans starting this year. Many VA locations are in training for the study and are hoping to start taking patients in the spring or summer of this year.
The goal is to see if they can find more answers for those with liver cancer which in turn would hopefully help anyone dealing with it in the future.
“This kind of research is really an important thing where the VA makes a big contribution to not just the veterans but all of society.” Dr. Whittle said.
Milwaukee is able to be apart of a historical research project that has hopes of helping veterans and their families for years to come.
For more information about the study, click here.