Page 53 - LIVESTRONG Digital Guidebook
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and confirm the effectiveness of a treatment for Ask questions if you are considering becoming
a specific type of cancer. Side effects are com- a participant in a clinical trial such as:
pared to those of other commonly used treat-
ments. Some clinical trials compare the current • Who has reviewed and approved this study?
best treatment to the one being studied. Can- • Has the treatment been used in other clinical
cer patients receive the best standard treatment
or a treatment that researchers believe will be at trials for my type of cancer? If so, how
least as good. successful was it?
• What are the short- and long-term benefits?
Phase IV: Studies continue after the treatment • What are all of the possible risks and side effects?
has been released to the market. Information • How would side effects be treated?
is collected about the effect of this treatment • Are there other treatment options?
method in different groups of people. Side • What are the costs for treatments, tests
effects are studied for long-term use. and other services?
• Will my health insurance or benefit
If you want to be part of a clinical trial, you will program cover all costs?
be asked to read and sign an informed consent form. • Can I withdraw from the clinical trial once I start?
This is to make certain that you understand the ben-
efits and risks that are possible. These may include: If a clinical trial is right for you, ask about those
that are available locally. Also, ask about those that
Possible Benefits are occurring outside the area in which you live. If the
• The treatment might be available only through clinical trial is not offered where you live, you would
the clinical trial. be required to travel for treatment. Participants might
• The treatment used in the clinical trial be required to have more visits to the health care pro-
could be more effective than the current vider than they would have for standard treatment.
standard treatment.
• Those in the clinical trial receive regular and The LIVESTRONG Foundation will help you
careful attention from doctors and other search for clinical trial options that match your treat-
members of the research team. ment history as well as your type and stage of can-
• Results from the study could help others in cer. Talk with your health care team each time you
the future. have to make a treatment decision. Go online to
LIVESTRONG.org/CancerSupport or call toll-free at
Possible Risks 855.220.7777.
• The drugs or treatment being studied are
not always better than the standard The following organizations also offer free and
treatment methods. confidential information about clinical trials:
• The treatment could cause side effects or risks
that doctors do not yet know about or expect. • National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Infor-
• If it is a randomized trial, participants are not mation Service at cancer.gov/clinicaltrials or
able to choose whether they will get the trial 800.422.6237, or TTY 800.332.8615
treatment or the current standard treatment. • National Institute of Health at clinicaltrials.
• Health insurance and managed care providers gov or 301.496.4000, or TTY 301.402.9612
might not cover all trial care costs.
If you participate in a clinical trial, find out which
FINDING CLINICAL TRIALS expenses your insurer will cover. Ask them to put it in
writing before you begin treatments.
Before you decide to participate in a clinical trial, talk
with your provider and other health care experts.
Find out what the purpose of the clinical trial is, as
well as who is sponsoring the study.
www.LIVESTRONG.org/WeCanHelp JUST DIAGNOSED: MEDICAL CONCERNS 53
