| Every
drug a person has ever taken from aspirin to eye drops
has gone through a clinical trial. However, when faced
with taking part in a cancer clinical trial, people realize
they have many questions to ask. We have tried to answer
some of these questions here.
Q.
What is a clinical trial?
A. 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.
Q.
What do cancer clinical trials test?
A. 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.
Q.
Will I know what the study is testing?
A. 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.
Q.
Do I have to take part in a clinical trial? What if
I decide to leave the trial before it is over?
A. All clinical trials
are voluntary. Only you decide if you will take part
in a clinical trial. If you choose to take part but
want to leave before the trial ends, trial doctors may
continue to observe your records to be sure that no
side effects arise.
Q.
Can my doctor sign me up for a study without my approval?
A. 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.
Q.
How can I be sure that the research team will treat
me well during the trial?
A. Institutional review
boards (IRBs) watch over clinical trials to make sure
that the studies are ethical and to protect the welfare
of the participants.
Q.
Will I have to pay to take part in a clinical trial?
A. 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.
Q.
Who will have access to my medical information?
A. 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.
Q.
Will I have to travel to another city or state to take
part in a clinical trial?
A. 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.
Q.
How many adult patients participate in cancer clinical
trials?
A. Less than 5% of
adult patients participate in clinical trials.
Q.
How many children take part in cancer clinical trials?
A. Nearly 90% of eligible
pediatric cancer patients enter clinical trials, resulting
in an overall cure rate for childhood cancer that exceeds
75%.
|
