If You Have Cancer and
What are cancer clinical trials?
Have Medicare...
Cancer treatment
You Should Know
clinical trials are
About Clinical Trials
research studies to
find better ways
to treat cancer.
Clinical trials
often compare
the most accepted
cancer treatment
(standard treatment)
with a new treatment that doctors
hope will be better. What doctors
learn in these trials will help people
with cancer--now and in the future.
It is important that men and women
of all ages and backgrounds take
part in clinical trials. Each trial
has rules about who can and cannot
participate; for example, people who
have the same type of cancer. Think
about asking your doctor if you can
take part in a clinical trial.
What kind of information will I get
if I want to take part in a clinical trial?
Medicare now covers some costs
Before you join a clinical trial, a
of clinical trials. If you have cancer,
doctor, nurse, or another person on
you may have more choices for your
the research team will explain why
cancer treatment.
the trial is being done and what will
happen during the clinical trial. You
will be given a consent form to read.
© Cover photo by Susie Fitzhugh
The consent form will explain:
What cancer treatment will I get?
· The exact plan for each step in
the clinical trial
If you join a clinical trial that com-
· What side effects you may have
pares treatments, you will
· How the trial may affect your
get either:
daily life
· The best accepted treatment for
the kind of cancer you have
You should ask questions about any
(called standard treatment)
part of the clinical trial or consent
· A new treatment that doctors
form you do not understand. If you
hope will be better than the stan-
decide to take part in the trial, you
dard treatment
will be asked to sign the consent
form. Even if you sign the consent
Why do some people choose not to
form, you can still change your
mind and stop participating at
be part of a clinical trial?
any time.
· It is not known for sure if the
Who makes sure my rights are pro-
new treatment will help you more
tected?
or less than the standard treat-
ment.
National and local
· Treatments in clinical trials may
groups of experts
have side effects.
approve clinical tri-
· You may have to pay some of the
als before they
costs of the trial that Medicare
begin. One of the
does not cover. It's important to
most important
talk about these costs with your
groups is called an
health care provider.
institutional review
board (IRB). Each
Do I have to take part in a clinical
hospital or cancer
trial?
center has an
No. Taking part in a clinical trial is
IRB, which includes doctors, nurses,
up to you. It is important to look at
and people from the community.
all of your treatment options. You
The IRB's job is to review clinical
and your family should ask questions
trials and make sure they are run
before you decide to take part. Be
safely and fairly.
sure to get all the information you
need before making your decision.
What cancer clinical trials does
It is important to know that
Medicare pay for?
Medicare will not pay for all
your costs.
Medicare will pay
for most cancer
Medicare will not pay for:
treatment clinical
· Some clinical trial treatments
trials that are
· Tests that collect information
funded by:
only for the trial, but are not
· The National
needed for your medical care
Cancer Institute
· Coinsurance and deductibles
(NCI)
· Another part of
If I'm in a Medicare + Choice Plan,
the Federal
can I still take part in a clinical trial?
Government
Yes. Medicare covers the costs
of participating in many cancer
If I decide to take part in a clinical
treatment trials, whether you are
trial, what will Medicare pay for?
in a Medicare + Choice Plan or in
the Original Medicare Plan.
Medicare will pay for all routine
costs that are part of a clinical trial.
You may take part in a trial outside
of your Medicare + Choice Plan.
Medicare will pay for:
Before you start treatment in a
· Visits to your doctor's office
clinical trial, tell your plan. This
· All tests that you will need for
way, your plan can still keep track
your medical care
of your cancer treatment.
· Your hospital stay(s), if you
need it
If you have more questions about
· Surgery, if you need it
what costs Medicare will pay
· Tests and treatments for side
for, call Medicare toll-free at
effects, if you have them
1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227).
TTY/TDD users, call
1-877-486-2048.
Questions to ask
For more information
Here are some questions to ask
About cancer clinical trials
before you agree to take part in a
· Ask your doctor
clinical trial:
· Visit the clinical trials section of
the National Cancer Institute's
· Why is the clinical trial being
(NCI) Web site at
done?
www.cancer.gov
· How will it help me?
· Call NCI's Cancer Information
· What kinds of tests and treat-
Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CAN-
ments are part of the trial?
CER (toll-free TTY for people
· How could the clinical trial
who are deaf or hard of hearing:
change what I do every day?
1-800-332-8615)
· What will happen to my cancer
with or without this treatment?
About Medicare
· What treatments could I get
· Visit Medicare's Web site at
if I don't take part in the
www.medicare.gov
clinical trial?
· Call toll-free 1-800-MEDICARE
· What are possible short- and
(1-800-633-4227). TTY/TDD
long-term side effects for me and
users, call 1-877-486-2048
my family to think about?
· How do the risks and side effects
Medicare is a health insurance
of the standard treatment com-
program for people who are age
pare with the new treatment?
65 or older, some people with dis-
· How long will the clinical trial
abilities under age 65, and
last?
people with end-stage renal disease
· Will I have to stay in the hospital
(permanent kidney failure requiring
during the clinical trial? If so,
dialysis or a kidney transplant).
how often and for how long?
· Will I have check-ups after the
clinical trial?
· How long do I have to make up
my mind about joining this trial?
Tip: Write out a list of your ques-
Public Health Service
tions and concerns to
National Institutes of Health
ask your doctor
NIH Publication No. 02-5132
Printed March 2002