| Myth: | Cancer patients avoid clinical trials because they are too risky. |
| Fact: | In a survey of 5,900 cancer patients*, most said that they would have enrolled in a clinical trial if they were aware of it as a treatment option. In clinical trials, patients are watched closely by their doctor and other members of the health care team. |
Myth: |
You need to be near a big hospital to take part in a clinical trial. |
| Fact: | Many cancer clinical trials take place at local hospitals. Some also take place at local cancer clinics and doctors’ offices. |
Myth: |
Cancer clinical trial patients are given “sugar pills.” |
| Fact: | Patients who join clinical trials are given the best treatment available or the chance to receive a new treatment being considered. “Sugar pills” (also called placebos) are rarely used in cancer clinical trials and are never used in place of treatment. |
Myth: |
Health insurance will not cover the costs of a clinical trial. |
| Fact: | Many insurers cover the normal costs of treatment on cancer clinical trials. So do many states. Check with your doctor or insurance plan to see if you are covered. |
Myth: |
Medicare does not cover the patient care costs of clinical trials. |
| Fact: | Medicare has been covering these costs since June of 2000. |
Myth: |
Patients in clinical trials are treated like “guinea pigs.” |
| Fact: | Of the 5,900 cancer patients surveyed,* 97% of those who participated in a clinical trial said that they were treated with dignity and respect. In addition, 93% said that they had an overall positive experience. |
| * | Harris Interactive Survey 2000 Report available on www.CancerTrialsHelp.org |
“Clinical trials require a consensus as to what should represent the best standard of care. If people knew about clinical trials, I think they would understand their disease better.”
Norman Wolmark, MD
Chair, National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project
Hearing a doctor say, “You Have Cancer” can create many different feelings. Shock. Denial. Anger. Fear. But, after you accept that you have the disease, you have a choice to make. How do you go about fighting – and beating – cancer? The first step is to learn as much as you can about your kind of cancer. Then, talk with your doctor about your best choices for treatment.
One option that may be right for you is a clinical trial. This is a research method used to find better ways of preventing or treating a disease. Clinical trials help doctors tell if a new treatment works, and is safe. Thousands of cancer patients have taken part in this kind of research. All of today’s cancer drugs were tested this way.
Some people think that clinical trials are only a last resort, after all other cancer treatments have been tried. But they can often be a good way to begin your treatment. As a cancer patient, you need to make sure you receive the best care from the very start. Taking part in a clinical trial may be the answer.
Of course, cancer clinical trials are not for all patients. There may not be a trial you can join for your kind of cancer or your medical condition. But if you find a trial that is right for you, here are some good reasons to join:
Taking part in a clinical trial is a big step. You should think about it carefully. Ask your loved ones for their advice, and be sure to ask your doctor about clinical trials. He or she can help you decide if a clinical trial is right for you.
Try to learn about your treatment choices as soon as you find out that you have cancer. Do this before your treatment begins.
All new cancer treatments must first be tested in clinical trials. This is the first use of a treatment in humans. There are three steps to the process. A treatment must pass all of these steps, or “phases,” before it can be approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for widespread use.
This phase of cancer research involves a small number of people. The treatment is tested for safety, and to see how much of it a person should take. If the results are good, the treatment moves on to Phase II.
A small number of patients are also involved in this phase of cancer research. Phase II clinical trials test the treatment to see if it works against a certain kind of cancer. If it does, the treatment moves on to Phase III.
This phase of cancer research involves hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of people. The goal is to compare the new treatment to the best known treatment. Phase III clinical trials are often done in local hospitals. They may also be done in cancer clinics and doctors’ offices. If you join a clinical trial, chances are it will be a Phase III clinical trial.
The Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life and survival of cancer patients by increasing participation in cancer clinical trials.
Founded in 1997, the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups was established to address its members’ shared goal of improving the clinical trials system. Today, the Coalition is comprised of members from nine National Cancer Institute-sponsored Cooperative Groups, 40 patient advocacy organizations and 8,000 oncology and cancer research specialists. The Coalition also works with its partners in the healthcare industry to streamline and promote cancer clinical trials in both the public and private sectors.
The Coalition is a 501(c)3 organization. Grants, sponsorships, member dues and other working relationships support the Coalition's activities.
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
the voice for
cancer clinical trials
1818 Market Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-789-3600, fax 215-789-3655
www.CancerTrialsHelp.org
Funding provided by
SUU00237AE ©2009 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA/May 2009
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