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Cancer Clinical Trials and the Patient
Cancer patients, their families, and loved ones face many difficult decisions once they learn of their diagnosis. As they discuss the various treatment options, one element to consider may be a cancer clinical trial (also referred to as a research study).
NMCCA offers the following information to help patients and other interested parties decide whether to participate in a cancer clinical trial.
What is a cancer clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a medical research study involving people. Prior to involving people, new methods of treatment such as new drugs, new combinations of treatments, new approaches to surgery or radiation, or other new methods are tested in a laboratory setting. If the laboratory tests show that an experimental cancer treatment might slow the growth of or destroy cancer cells, researchers set up a clinical trial using volunteer patients. These trials are designed to determine whether these experimental treatments are safe and provide a better therapy for cancer patients than the existing standard treatments. Sometimes the new treatment is better, but sometimes the standard treatment proves to be the better option.
NMCCA believes clinical trials benefit the public because they address cancer patients’ health needs and enhance medical research. The knowledge obtained from the trials directly affects the progress toward cures. The number of people who participate in clinical trials directly affects the overall cure rate for cancers. For example, almost ninety percent of eligible pediatric cancer patients participate in clinical trials and the overall cure rate for childhood cancer is more than seventy-five percent. However, only about five percent of adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials. Adult cancer research is not as extensive as pediatric and many medical researchers believe this is contributing to the slower advances in treatments for adult cancers.
There are many reasons why adults do not participate in cancer clinical trials. Undoubtedly, one factor is the lack of local, easily accessible trials. NMCCA wants to give New Mexicans more options in cancer therapies by bringing the latest clinical trials to the state.
For more information about clinical trials, please see:
"A Patient's Guide to Clinical Trials"English 2009 (pdf format)
"A Patient's Guide to Clinical Trials"Spanish 2009 (pdf format)
or view our Frequently Asked Questions page
Helping to Enhance Research in Oncology (HERO)
Click here to view the "Could You be a Hero?" video
2011 HERO Recognition Breakfast
NMCCA's HERO educational program educates the community, raises awareness about the role of clinical trials in cancer care, and helps publicize the health disparities in New Mexico caused by the barriers to participation in clinical trials. As part of this program, we regularly honor and thank cancer clinical trial participants at our HERO Recognition Breakfast.
The latest HERO Recognition Breakfast was on March 24, 2011. The keynote speaker, Selinza Mitchell, provided inspiration and hope through her “Fingerprints of a Survivor” tribute to these HEROs. In addition to recognizing clinical trial participants, the program also raised awareness of the importance of clinical trials for cancer cure research.
Clinical Trial Insurance Bill
If you are considering participating in a clinical trial and wonder whether your insurance will cover the costs, please click here for a copy of "Article 22 - Health Insurance Contracts, 59A-22-43; Required coverage of patient costs incurred in cancer clinical trials." If you have specific questions, you should contact your health insurance provider.
Other Helpful Organizations
NMCCA believes there are many valuable local and national cancer education and support organizations. Some focus on one tumor site or disease; others cover all or many tumor sites. Many have quality of life and other assistance programs for cancer patients and their families.
Updated 4-27-2011 |
