STAND UP FOR ALL OF US

Many trials are offered in community cancer centers. Often trials are conducted in a particular location where a researcher is located. 

If you are interested in finding a trial or have found a specific one, talk to your doctor to learn more.

The cost of a study treatment is typically provided free of charge. Most special tests done specifically for the trial, such as extra blood tests, are paid for by those running the trial. Other costs associated with your care are handled as they would be if you weren’t in a trial.

The study center may have a financial navigator or social worker who can answer your questions and give you suggestions or access to resources that may be of help.

Placebos are rarely used in cancer clinical trials. Participants always receive at least the current standard of care for their type of cancer. When a placebo is used, it’s usually combined with the standard treatment.

For some people, clinical trials are a great first option. Waiting longer could ultimately hinder the ability to qualify for a trial, either because they have already been exposed to other treatments or they are no longer healthy enough to meet the eligibility requirements of the trial.

The safety of clinical trial participants is of the utmost importance. Each trial is watched over by a special committee, called an “Institutional Review Board” (IRB), whose mission is to protect the interests of patients who participate in the trial. This board operates independently of the organization which is funding the study. IRBs do many things, but a main focus of their work is to protect the rights and welfare of participants. If they have any questions or concerns about your safety, they can mandate changes to how the study is designed.

It’s important to keep in mind that clinical trials are run because the treatment being studied has shown promise. Many years of research and massive effort is required before a treatment reaches a clinical trial. Sometimes the study drug is already known to be effective on cancers in other parts of the body.

In a clinical trial, participants receive a high level of care and a great deal of attention. You will likely find that you have more access to doctors and nurses to answer your questions. You will also be given more tests and be monitored very closely.

Participants are provided at least the current standard treatment for their particular cancer, with the possibility of receiving a new treatment that may help them.

You and your doctor are in control of whether you participate in a trial and what trial you both feel is best for you. You always have the option of withdrawing from a trial at any time and for any reason without penalty.

You may. In fact, you may be asked to do a series of biopsies. Unlike blood work and scans, biopsies allow researchers to look directly at your cancer. That lets them see features of the cancer cells, such as specific gene mutations that may be vulnerable to particular types of therapy; especially newer, targeted therapies. Because a tumor changes in response to treatment, a series of biopsies may be needed to see how you are responding to the therapy and to help researchers better understand the biology.