Researchers, scientists and doctors conduct clinical trials to learn more about cancer. They try to understand the causes, how to prevent or delay the development of cancer or how to treat symptoms.
A clinical trial is one of the final stages of a long and careful cancer research process. Before a clinical trial is held, researchers first conduct tests in the laboratory. However, lab research cannot predict all of the benefits, risks or effects that may occur in actual patients. That's where clinical trials come in.
During a cancer treatment clinical trial, information is gathered about a new treatment, its risks and how well it may or may not work. The goal of the study is to answer scientific questions that enable the medical community to find better ways to help people with cancer and to help determine if a promising new treatment is safe and effective.
The treatments that people with cancer receive today are the result of clinical trials done in the past. Without the benefit of the valuable information gained through clinical trials, medical research could not move forward.
Participating in a clinical trial can aid your loved one directly by giving him or her access to potentially helpful treatments before they are available to the general public.
Who Can Participate in a Clinical Trial?
Participation in cancer treatment clinical trials is always voluntary. If your aging parent is thinking about participating in a clinical trial – or is asked to participate in one – you and your loved one should learn as much as you can before making up your mind. Remember that your parent is in control of their medical treatment and they can change their mind at any time.
There are guidelines about who can participate in a clinical trial. Before joining a clinical trial, a participant must qualify for the study. A potential participant must meet certain criteria, which could include factors as age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history and other medical conditions. Some research studies seek participants with illnesses or conditions to be studied in the clinical trial, while others need healthy participants. The criteria are used to identify appropriate participants and keep them safe. The criteria help ensure that researchers will be able to answer the questions they plan to study.
"Informed consent" provides potential participants information so that they can make an educated decision about whether or not to participate in a clinical trial. The research team lays out the trial's purpose, procedures, risks and potential benefits, and your parent's rights as a participant. The researchers will continue to provide information to you and your parent throughout the trial. Your loved one's signature on the informed consent document gives official consent to participate in the study, but your parent always retains the right to leave the study at any time for any reason. Ask for a printed document that includes all this information for your reference throughout the study and the trial.