Is it better to be in a clinical trial rather than standard treatment?

17. Is it better to be in a clinical trial rather
than standard treatment?

This is a hard question to answer, since clinical trials
entail different potential benefits and risks depending
on the individual, the cancer diagnosis and stage, and
the treatment proposed. People often believe that they
will get more scientifically advanced treatment if they
enroll in a clinical trial. Some people with advanced
disease who want treatment may only have the option
of enrolling in a clinical trial if standard treatments are
not available.

Clinical trials usually involve more frequent check-ups
and detailed interviews regarding symptoms than traditional
treatment follow-up to make sure that the
treatment is working properly and is without significant
side effects. And, since clinical trials are often
performed at major cancer centers, patients may
believe they are getting the state-of-the-art treatment
for their cancer, which is often the case.

Keep in mind, however, that the treatment involved in
clinical trials may have side effects, as any cancer
treatment does, but sometimes the effects of these
treatments involved in clinical trials are not as well
known as the effects of standard cancer therapy. Therefore,
make sure your loved one enters a clinical trial
with “eyes open,” understanding all the pros and cons
of the proposed study including possible harm and side
effects, and potential benefits. This research may benefit
other patients being treated in the future by allowing
doctors to test new and potentially better treatments.