Clinical Trials - FAQ
Every drug a person has ever taken from Tylenol to eye drops has gone through a clinical trial. However, when faced with taking part in a cancer clinical trial, people have many questions. We have tried to answer some of these questions here.
A clinical trial is a medical research study done on people. Before a new treatment or drug can enter the clinical trial stage and involve people, researchers test it in a laboratory. If the laboratory test results show the treatment might slow the growth of or destroy cancer cells, a clinical trial is set up. Out of 1000 potential drugs tested in the laboratory, only one will go to a clinical trial.
Cancer trials test new drugs, combinations of treatments, new approaches to surgery or radiation or other methods for treating cancer. These studies determine that the new treatment is both safe and effective.
Before you join a study, a research team representative will explain the study to you and answer your questions. Be sure to ask as many questions as you can.
If you decide to join the study, you will have to sign an informed consent form. This form will explain the reason for the study; provide current information about and possible side effects of the treatment; and list what you will be required to do as a participant.
Institutional review boards (IRBs) watch over clinical trials to make sure that the studies are ethical and to protect the welfare of the participants.
You may be responsible for some of the costs of the clinical trial. The informed consent form will tell you what costs the organizers of the trial will pay. You should check with your insurance company for details on what your plan will cover.
Your medical information is confidential. Clinical trial organizers will protect your identity by assigning you a number or code that links your information with your treatment. Only people who need to know will have access to that code.
Check with your physician. NMCCA is opening more trials each month. You may be able to find a clinical trial that is appropriate for your disease close to your home.
Less than 5% of adult patients participate in clinical trials.