Clinical Trials
Clinical trials offer many advantages to people undergoing cancer treatment, but they also raise emotional and practical concerns. Are clinical trials effective? Can I participate in a clinical trial locally? Will I have to pay for the clinical trial?
CancerCare is here to help you deal with these issues. Our staff of trained oncology social workers can help you understand what a clinical trial is, assess the many pros and cons of clinical trials, and give you tips on how to talk to your doctor about pursuing a clinical trial.
To talk to a CancerCare social worker about clinical trials and whether they are right for you, click here or call 1-800-813-HOPE (4673).
What is a Clinical Trial?
A clinical trial is a research study designed to evaluate new ways to prevent or treat cancer. Most cancer clinical trials are treatment studies. Treatment studies try to answer specific questions about the effectiveness of a new treatment or a new way of using an old treatment. By evaluating the results of these trials, scientists can find better treatments and ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. Clinical trials may test:
- New methods of treatment such as biological therapy
- New approaches to treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy
- New combinations of treatments
If a new treatment offered in a clinical trial proves to be effective, it may become a new standard of care. Many of today's most effective treatments are based on results from previous clinical trials. Because of progress made through clinical trials, many people with cancer are living longer and better.
Patients enrolled in a clinical trial are among the first to receive new treatments before they become widely offered. Clinical trials offer important scientific information about the effectiveness of new treatments. Because this research often leads to better cancer treatments, clinical trials play a key role in the progress against cancer.
