Should I take part in a cancer clinical trial?

Clinical trials come with many benefits for cancer patients. If you have tried other treatments that don’t seem to give better outcomes, you can opt for clinical trials. Some clinical trials are also good for newly diagnosed patients that are willing to try new medication that may otherwise not be available 

 

Clinical trials are also not without risk. Some have minor side effects and others are unknown depending on the phase of the study. Your doctor should be able to explain all the risks in a particular study. 

 

Below are some of the risks and benefits that come with clinical trials.

 

Benefits of Clinical Trials

 

Clinical trials come with many benefits for cancer patients. A few of them include the following:

• You’ll get treated with the latest therapies that may not be otherwise available
• You may get better outcomes from clinical trials than from standard treatment
• You’ll have better care and monitoring than when receiving standard care. In clinical trials, patients undergo many tests and monitoring to see how they respond to treatment.
• It has lower financial implications than standard care since most of the tests are catered for by the study sponsor
• You’ll improve cancer care for future generations and patients

 

Drawbacks of Clinical Trials

 

While clinical trials offer many benefits to cancer patients, there are some drawbacks you should be aware of. These include:

• Clinical trials have more tests and examinations than standard care
• Some of the drugs come with unpleasant side effects. Other side effects may not even be known or how to manage them.
• Checkups are frequent and more prolonged than in standard care
• New therapies may not necessarily be better than standard care
• There will be more paperwork in the clinical trials

 

Each study has its benefits and drawbacks. Your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and drawbacks of the study you qualify for and help you make an informed decision whether to participate in the study or not.

 

Clinical trials advance new treatments and provide alternative therapies for patients who would not otherwise have access to these drugs and procedures. You or your doctor can reach out to us to discuss available clinical trials at International Cancer institute and whether you qualify for them.