Do any of the trials listed on BCT.org use placebos?
None of the trials listed on BCT.org that are for patients who are in need of immediate treatment for their breast cancer use a placebo. You might, however, see a study comparing whether drug A, the current standard of care, works better when combined with drug B that has one group of patients being given drug A and drug B, and the other group being given drug A and a placebo. Note, though, that even though this trial is using a placebo, everyone is still getting the standard of care. BCT.org also includes trials that address treatment-related side effects. For example, we might have information about a trial that is studying an investigation drug researchers hope will reduce hot flashes in women taking tamoxifen by randomizing women to either the investigational drug or to a placebo. Researchers are permitted to use a placebo in this type of trial because not getting the treatment does not put the patient at risk, as the trial is looking at an effective treatment for hot flashes, not
