Research, Clinical Studies
Your doctor may suggest that you consider taking part in a clinical study, where patients help scientists find new, improved treatments for cancer. Participating in a clinical study is one of the many important decisions faced by women who are at high risk for breast cancer or who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. When considering a clinical study, it is important for you to understand the study. The consent form is a good source of information and provides details to help you make an informed choice about participating in the clinical trial.
Take your time; make the decision that is right for you by weighing the
possible benefits and risks of participating in a study. You may also find
it helpful to talk to family or friends, your health-care providers, and
other you know that have participated in a clinical trial.
Clinical studies evaluate the effectiveness of new therapies. Treatments
received on clinical trials can be equal to or potentially better than
standard treatments. There are different types of clinical trials. They
include:
- Prevention studies designed to either prevent a new cancer from developing in people who have had cancer or to prevent cancer in those that have not had cancer;
- Early detection studies to find cancer, especially in its early stages;
- Treatment studies to test new and promising therapies which may be more effective and safer for people who have cancer;
- Quality of life studies to improve comfort and quality of life for people who have cancer.
If you choose to take part in a clinical study, you could benefit from
a new drug, procedure, or symptom-control method while helping evaluate
its effectiveness. Your participation can contribute directly to finding
better ways to prevent, detect, or treat the specific disease. Nearly
all of today's most effective interventions are the direct result of
knowledge
gained through clinical studies. All clinical studies have been reviewed
by experts in the field to insure safety and the potential promise
of the new approach.
There is a range of clinical studies available at the Breast Care Center.
The studies focus on breast cancer prevention and treatments for early
breast cancer, late breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer. If
you have questions, you can discuss them with your physician.
If you are interested in learning more about these clinical
studies at the Breast Care Center call Brenda Reusser, Clinical Research Manager, at 713-798-1929.
OR,
For more comprehensive information on clinical trials, your online resource:
http://nci.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/
OR,
Taking
Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need to Know booklet
by the National Cancer Institute.