Why Participate in a Clinical Trial?
Pharmaceutical companies are constantly changing and improving everyday shelf and prescription medicines, thereby improving the quality of life for many people. A large number of these medicines are evaluated by independent testing laboratories before they can be marketed. This type of testing helps to assure you, the consumer, that the medicines you purchase are effective and safe.
Clinical trials contribute to the knowledge and progress against cancer. If a new treatment proves effective in study, it may become a new standard treatment that can help many patients. Clinical trials may also answer important scientific questions and suggest future research directions. Because of progress made through clinical trials, many people treated for cancer are now living longer and with a better quality of life. Patients who enter clinical trials receive high-quality cancer care by experts in their field. All participants receive either state-of-the-art treatment that may not be otherwise available, or they receive the best standard treatment for their disease. Since it is not known if the new treatment is as good as, or better than the standard treatment, no one can predict if a patient will personally benefit from their participation. It is hoped that information gained from the study will benefit other patients with that disease.
Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. Participants may receive study-related exams, lab work, EKGs, bone density scans, and study medication at no cost.
