Deciding to participate in a clinical trial is a complex decision. For many people with cancer, a clinical trial may be the best treatment option available. Other people may want to help contribute to the development of better treatment options in the future.

Clinical trials are the standard of care for the treatment of children with cancer. In fact, about two-thirds of children with cancer are treated as part of a clinical trial. Cancer in children is rare, so it can be hard for doctors to plan treatments unless they know what has been most effective in other children. Investigating new treatments involves careful monitoring using scientific methods and closely following all participants to track progress.

Every time a doctor gives a new therapy and patients respond positively, it is a testament to the promise of clinical trials. To put the importance of clinical trials into perspective, it is helpful to recognize that virtually every treatment available today is the direct result of clinical research.

Learning about the process

The decision to participate in a clinical trial may be easier if you take the time to learn more about your disease, condition, or health status. Consider the following factors:

• Find out what kind of studies are being done and learn about the study designs.
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• Talk with your doctor about which studies might be appropriate for you.
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• Determine the potential risks and benefits of participating in the study.
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• Make sure to get answers to all of your questions from your doctor.

Talk about this information and how you feel about it with your own doctor, nurse, family members, and friends to help you determine what is best for you.

Benefits and risks of clinical trials

The decision to join a clinical trial is similar to making decisions about other aspects of your treatment. There are both benefits and risks associated with clinical trials. Some people decide that there are too many risks and others decide that they are willing to take those risks to get a new treatment.

These are some of the benefits of participating in a clinical trial.

• You will be taking an active role in your own health care.
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• You may gain access to new treatments that are not available to the public.
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• You will obtain expert medical care at leading health-care facilities during the trial.
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• You will be helping others by contributing to medical research.

These are some of the potential risks.

• There may be side effects or adverse reactions to medications or treatments.
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• The treatment may not be effective for you.
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• The protocol may require a lot of your time for trips to the study site, treatments, hospital stays, or complex dosage requirements.
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• The new treatment may not be available to you right away once the clinical trial is finished.