Cancer Clinical Trials:
The Way We Make Progress
Against Cancer
What Are Cancer Clinical Trials?
· Research studies to
find better ways to
prevent, detect, or
treat cancer
· Help doctors find
ways to improve
cancer care
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Why Are Cancer Clinical
Trials Important?
· Most of the best cancer
treatments we have
today are based on
what we learned from
clinical trials
· People with cancer are living longer because of
clinical trials
3
Do Many People Take Part in
Cancer Clinical Trials?
· Few people take part
· The more people who
take part, the faster we
will find better ways to
treat and prevent
cancer
4
What Are the Different Types of
Clinical Trials?
· Treatment
· Prevention
· Diagnostic
· Screening/early
detection
· Quality of life
5
Treatment Trials
· What new
treatments can help
people who have
cancer?
· What is the most
effective treatment
for people who have
cancer?
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Treatment Trials
· Many treatment trials
compare two or more
different approaches to
treating cancer
· Participants will take
either:
­ The best accepted cancer
treatment
­ A new treatment
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Prevention Trials
What approaches can
prevent a specific
type of cancer from
developing in people
who don't have
cancer?
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Prevention Trials
Two kinds, that ask
participants to either:
1. Do something
2. Take something
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Protecting Patients' Safety
Informed Consent
Before agreeing to take part,
patients have the right to
understand all that is
involved in a clinical trial:
· Procedures and treatments
·Tests
· Possible risks and benefits
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Protecting Patients' Safety
Institutional Review Boards
· Committee made up
of experts
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Benefits of Taking Part
Possible benefits:
· Patients will receive, at a minimum, the best
standard treatment
· If the new approach is proven to work,
patients may be among the first to benefit
· Patients have a chance to help others and
improve cancer care
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Risks of Taking Part
Possible risks:
· Unknown side effects or other risks
· New treatment may not help every participant
·Costs
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Where to Find Clinical
Trial Information
· Your doctor or nurse
· National Cancer Institute
­ www.cancer.gov
· Cancer Information Service
­ 1-800-4-CANCER
­ TTY- 1-800-332-8615
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Document Outline