If you or a loved one has received a cancer diagnosis, you might wonder if joining a clinical trial is a smart move. Clinical trials are a type of medical research that enlists volunteers to test whether new medical treatments are safe and effective.
Many people who take part in clinical trials first learn about them from their doctors. But you don’t have to wait for your doctor to mention a clinical trial. You should feel free to raise this important issue yourself.
Benefits of Clinical Trials
Medical research has many benefits — and also some risks. Potential benefits of participating in a clinical trial include:
- Closer monitoring by the study team.
- Early access to new medications or treatments not yet available outside of research.
- Helping doctors and scientists learn more about your disease.
- Increased treatment options.
- Providing new information that can improve care for others with the same disease.
Potential negatives include:
- The new treatment might have worse side effects.
- The study protocol might require additional testing or doctor visits.
- The study treatment might not work for you.
- You may need to halt your current treatment during the study.
These are the general risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial. Each specific trial might involve additional risks and benefits.
Finding Clinical Trials
Finding clinical trials can get complicated. But you don’t have to live in a big city to participate in medical research. Medical centers throughout the U.S. conduct clinical trials.
You can find information about clinical trials online, including at ClinicalTrials.gov, the world’s largest database of clinical trials.
Individual medical centers often list locally available clinical trials on their websites. Make sure you check out UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s research database, which lets you search for cancer clinical trials by tumor type and ZIP code.
Talking to Your Oncologist
You’ll need a lot of information to decide whether to join a clinical trial. Start by talking to your oncologist. They’ll apply their knowledge of clinical research to your specific medical situation and help you determine your clinical trial eligibility.
Bring a list of written questions to your appointment. Write down the answers yourself or bring a friend or loved one to do so. Encourage them to ask questions, too.
Don’t worry that you’re asking too many questions or that your questions are too basic. Your oncologist expects questions with any serious diagnosis. Their job is to give you the information you need to decide whether a clinical trial is right for you.
Key questions to ask your oncologist regarding clinical trials
- How could participating in this clinical trial benefit me? After you learn the general benefits of participating in medical research, find out how those benefits might play out for you specifically.
- What are the possible risks of participating in this clinical trial? Taking part in a clinical research study always comes with general risks. But each trial will also come with specific risks. Ask your doctor to explain these risks in the context of your medical situation.
- What will happen during the clinical trial? What’s the goal of this medical study? What phase is this clinical trial? How long will the clinical trial last?
- Do I need to stop my current treatment? You’ll continue your current treatment if the research studies existing treatments. But if the study tests a new treatment, you may need to change medicines.
- Where will I have to go for my study-related care? If your doctor participates in the trial, you may receive care in their office as usual. If not, you’ll see another oncologist for your trial-related care. You’ll return to your own doctor when the clinical trial ends.
- What if I receive a placebo? The only way to know whether a new treatment is safe and effective is to make comparisons. This means you might receive a placebo — also known as a sham treatment — or the standard treatment.
- What does “double-blind” mean? “Double-blind” means that neither you nor your doctor will know which treatment you receive until the end of the study. Some studies allow people in the placebo/standard treatment group to receive the study drug later. But your safety is always the top priority.
- Who will pay for my study-related expenses? The study sponsor usually pays the clinical trial costs. Some clinical trial sponsors may even help with transportation or child care so you can participate. Your health insurance should pay for routine costs normally covered for anyone with your type of cancer.
What Is the Informed Consent Process?
Informed consent is a vital part of joining any clinical trial. Before you enroll, you’ll receive this important information about the clinical trial. Think of informed consent as a summary of the who, what, where, when, and why of the study.
The informed consent document will spell out possible risks and benefits of participation — information to help you decide whether to participate. When you believe you understand all the information, you’ll sign the consent documents.
A key aspect of informed consent is knowing you can withdraw from a clinical trial at any time.
Understanding Your Oncologist’s Perspective and Recommendations
Your doctor can help you understand the specifics of any clinical trial you’re considering.
For example, each trial can only accept people who meet specific criteria. It’s common for researchers just to accept people who are relatively healthy apart from their cancer. Your doctor can explain the eligibility criteria in more detail, but the study team will have the final say.
Your doctor’s top priority is your safety and well-being. That’s true whether or not you participate in medical research. Your doctor can share insights about clinical trials and make recommendations, but the decision to participate is yours.
Discuss the potential benefits and risks of participating in a clinical trial with your doctor. Then, make an informed decision based on your specific circumstances.
When deciding whether to participate, consider your current health status, treatment options, and personal preferences. You may consider your family’s input, too, but participation is always your choice.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .