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A clinical trial is an organized research study designed to investigate new methods
of preventing, detecting, diagnosing, or treating an illness or disease, such as
cancer. In some instances, clinical trials attempt to improve a patient’s quality
of life. When studying cancer treatment, researchers generally attempt to determine
whether a new method of treatment is superior to the standard (currently approved)
treatment of the disease. Clinical trials are extremely important in discovering
new techniques to fight disease. For example, many of the advances in breast and
colon cancer detection and treatment resulted from clinical trials. These advances
include:
- Screening mammography
- The use of chemotherapy before and after breast cancer and following
colon cancer surgery
- The use of radiation after lumpectomy and after rectal surgery
- Most cancer treatment drugs (tamoxifen, Herceptin, Oxaliplatin, etc)
Despite the importance of clinical trials to both patients and researchers, a recent
survey by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) shows that only 2% to
3% of adult patients participate in clinical trials. Comparatively, 60% to 70% of
children with cancer are enrolled in trials. Of the 6,000 adult cancer patients
surveyed by the ASCO, 84% said they were unaware of trials or unsure they would
qualify for participation in a trial.
For more information about clinical trials, please visit the NCI (National Cancer
Institute) website.
"Clinical Trials: Questions and Answers"
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