What is a clinical trial?:
Cancer research is developing rapidly. New questions need to be answered, and new treatments need to be tested. A clinical trial is a controlled way of finding out whether a new treatment works better than old ones, or whether a paticular way of treating is of any good.
Why are they needed?:
For every stage and situation in cancer there is usually more than one treatment approach available. Doctors may be biased towards one approach or another when they offer their suggestions to patients. By performing clinical trials an impartial decision can me made regarding the value of a treatment and how it compares with other available approaches.
What is phase I, II and III?:
There are 3 types of clinical trials. Phase I trials test new drugs or treatments to see whether patients can tolerate them, and in what quantity. Phase II trials test a new approach in the correct doses to see how effective it is. Phase III trials compare a new treatment approach with the current approaches available to find out which is better. If a new approach is found to be better in some way, it can then be approved for use by regulatory agencies.
Must I participate?:
To enroll you in a clinical trial, the hospital must have your 'informed consent'. This means that you must be fully informed reagrding what the trial involves, what treatments you are going to receive and if there are any potential hazards of a new approach. Once you go through the information it is your decision whether to participate or not. Feel free to refuse if you have any reservations. Your treatment at the hospital will not suffer because of your refusal.
Your benefits:
There are some definite benefits of participating in trials. It may be that very succesful modalities of treatment are not available for the stage in which your disease is in. The new intervention being tested may result in better outcomes. Trials are also conducted in very controlled settings - participants are closely watched and well cared for. You also may not have to pay for the treatment and the tests that you have to undergo. So read the documents and take a decision.
Locating clinical trials:
Usually it is your specialist who will tell you about trials that are on and may suggest that you consider participating in one. If you want to locate trials by yourself, you can search fro trials on the Internet using websites like Clinicaltrials.gov. Locate your disease and look for the trials and their entry criteria. There is information on whom to contact should you wish to participate.
