Clinical Trials Are At The Heart Of All Medical Advances
Only through clinical research can we gain insights into new ways to prevent and detect cancer and learn about the safety and efficacy of new therapies and medicines.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Researchers and physicians develop action plans, or protocols, for each clinical trial. These plans describe the trial’s goals, who’s eligible to take part and the steps involved. The plans also outline the study’s timeline and schedule.
Participation eligibility depends on factors such as your type of cancer, age, gender, medical history and current health status.
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If you’re thinking about participating in a clinical trial, we provide all the key facts about the study. A physician or nurse from our office of clinical research will give you details about:
- Alternative treatments
- Possible risks and benefits
- Study purpose
- Tests and procedures involved
We offer a full explanation of the study in a consent form, which our team will walk you through. If you decide to take part, you must sign this form. Decisions about participating are yours alone. And even if you sign the form, you may end your participation at any time.
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We conduct clinical trials following strict scientific and ethical principles. National and local experts approve trials before they begin to ensure we follow good clinical practices. Physicians, clinical trial program staff and community leaders make up our Institutional Review Board (IRB). They confirm that we conduct all studies appropriately and inform you of your rights.
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As a participant in a clinical trial, you:
- Can enhance your cancer care by expanding your treatment options
- Continue to receive expert medical care and monitoring during the trial and throughout your treatment
- May receive treatments that are more effective than existing therapies and not available in other locations
- Might experience fewer side effects than you would through standard treatments
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Being part of a clinical trial does come with some risks:
- If you participate in a trial where researchers compare a new treatment to an existing treatment (randomized trial), you cannot choose which treatment approach you receive.
- New treatments may have unknown side effects or risks.
- Therapies under investigation aren’t always better than current standard treatments.
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Getting answers to the following questions may help you decide if a clinical trial is right for you:
- Are there possible long-term risks of this treatment?
- How long will the study last?
- How might this trial help me or other patients?
- How will participating in this study affect my daily life?
- What is the overall purpose of the study?
- What other treatment options are available for me?
- What side effects are possible from the trial?
- What treatments, medical tests or procedures will I undergo during the study? How often will they occur?
- When do I need to decide about participating in the study?
- Where will I receive my treatment?
- Who will oversee my care?
- Will I receive follow-up care after the study?
- Will my health insurance cover the treatments and tests I receive as part of this study?
Contact Us
If you are a healthcare professional and would like to refer a patient or schedule a consultation, please contact the clinical trials office.