Cancer Clinical Trials:

1
Cancer Clinical Trials

• The Way We Make Progress Against Cancer

2
What Are Cancer Clinical Trials?

• Research studies to find better ways to prevent,
  detect, or treat cancer
• Help doctors find ways to improve cancer care

3
Why Are Cancer Clinical Trials Important?

• Most of the best cancer treatments we have today
  are based on what we learned from clinical trials

• People with cancer are living longer because of
  clinical trials

4
Do Many People Take Part in Cancer Clinical
Trials?

• Few people take part
• The more people who take part, the faster we will
  find better ways to treat and prevent cancer

5
What Are the Different Types of Clinical Trials?

• Treatment
• Prevention
• Diagnostic
• Screening/early detection
• Quality of life

6
Treatment Trials

• What new treatments can help people who have
  cancer?
• What is the most effective treatment for people
  who have cancer?

7
Treatment Trials

• Many treatment trials compare two or more
  different approaches to treating cancer
• Participants will take either
• The best accepted cancer treatment
• A new treatment

8
Prevention Trials

• What approaches can prevent a specific type of
  cancer from developing in people who dont have
  cancer?

9
Prevention Trials

• Two kinds, that ask participants to either
• 1. Do something
• 2. Take something

10
Protecting Patients SafetyInformed Consent

• Before agreeing to take part, patients have the
  right to understand all that is involved in a
  clinical trial
• Procedures and treatments
• Tests
• Possible risks and benefits

11
Protecting Patients SafetyInstitutional Review
Boards

• Committee made up of experts

12
Benefits of Taking Part

• Possible benefits
• Patients will receive, at a minimum, the best
  standard treatment
• If the new approach is proven to work, patients
  may be among the first to benefit
• Patients have a chance to help others and improve
  cancer care

13
Risks of Taking Part

• Possible risks
• Unknown side effects or other risks
• New treatment may not help every participant
• Costs

14
Where to Find Clinical Trial Information

• Your doctor or nurse
• National Cancer Institute
• www.cancer.gov
• Cancer Information Service
• 1-800-4-CANCER
• TTY- 1-800-332-8615