Clinical Trials: Helping to Advance Women's Health
Patients with cancer are living longer and have
a better quality of life than ever before. This
is due in part to our ability to better diagnose
and treat cancer. None of the recent advances
in cancer care would have been possible without
clinical trials.
What is a Clinical Trial?
Before a new treatment is made available to the
public, it must undergo a clinical trial. These
strictly monitored studies carefully evaluate
the safety and efficacy of new treatment strategies,
determine how different treatments work and compare
different treatment options.
Phase
I |
Determines how the new treatment will
work. For example, what is the best dose?
How many times a day should it be administered? |
Phase
II |
Determines whether the new treatment
has an anti-cancer effect. Does it shrink
the tumor? |
Phase III |
Compares the new treatment against the
standard treatment for the disease. Every
patient in a Phase III trial receives either
the standard treatment for a specific cancer
or the treatment being investigated.
A
common misconception is that some patients
receive placebos, and this has kept many
patients from participating in cancer clinical
trials. |
Participation in clinical trials is important
for several reasons:
- Patients who take part may be helped by the
treatment they receive.
- If a new treatment proves effective in a
study, it could become a new standard of treatment.
- Having different types of patients (women of various ages, races or ethnicities)
participate is important in determining the
effectiveness of treatment.
How does a patient enroll?
The first step is to talk your doctor or nurse
to find out if there is a clinical trial that
is right for you. Before enrolling in a clinical
trial, you or your loved one will undergo informed
consent. At this time, the study's investigator
will explain:
- The purpose of the trial
- How long the trial will last
- Whether the patient is eligible for participation
- Benefits and possible risks or side effects
- The role of the patient
Participation in a clinical trial is voluntary.
A patient can leave a trial at any time without
penalty.
For more information about clinical trials, call
800-789-PENN (7366) or visit Penn
Cancer Services.
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