How are doctors and scientists trying to answer questions about adjuvant therapy for breast cancer?
Doctors and scientists are conducting research studies called clinical trials to learn how to treat breast cancer more effectively. In these studies, researchers compare two or more groups of patients who receive different treatments. Such studies can show whether new treatments are more or less effective than standard ones and how the side effects compare. People who participate in clinical trials have the first opportunity to benefit from new treatments while helping to increase medical knowledge. Women with breast cancer who are interested in taking part in a clinical trial can ask their doctor whether this would be appropriate for them. Information about current clinical trials can be obtained from the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported Cancer Information Service (see below) or from the NCI’s cancerTrials Web site at http://cancertrials.nci.nih.gov on the Internet.
