Clinical trials are research studies involving people. A clinical trial is a way to test a new treatment to prove that it is safe, effective, and possibly better than a standard treatment. The clinical trial may be evaluating a new drug, a new combination of existing treatments, a new approach to radiation therapy or surgery, or a new method of cancer prevention.
About Clinical Trials www.cancer.net
A placebo-controlled clinical trial compares a new treatment with a placebo (inactive drug or treatment). Placebo-controlled clinical trials in cancer research are rare, but are used when there is no effective, standard treatment available. Read more about placebos in
cancer clinical trials.
I never understood my clinical trial while I was on it. The information was all there in my informed consent. Even though the language was respectful and direct, I was unable to process it.
Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research.
Understanding Clinical Trials: clinicaltrials.gov
I'm glad I participated in the trial, even if I don't understand it.
