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Clinical
Trials
What are clinical trials and how
can I get more information about them?
How can I sign up to be in a clinical trial?
I live outside the United States. How can I get
information about clinical trials?
What
are clinical trials and how can I get more information
about them?
When laboratory research shows that a new cancer
treatment, prevention, or screening method has
promise, a clinical trial (research study with
people) is started. These trials are designed
to answer important questions and to find out
whether the new approach is both safe and effective.
Often, clinical trials compare a new method with
a standard approach.
How
can I sign up to be in a clinical trial?
Each clinical trial enrolls patients with certain
types and stages of cancer and certain health
status. A trial that involves two or more treatments
can yield reliable answers only if all the patient
cases are the same, so they can be compared with
each other. Clinical trials are listed in PDQ®, the National
Cancer Institute's cancer information database,
or NCI's cancerTrials!" Web
site. Information on how to join a clinical trial
at the NCI is available at the BethesdaTrials Web site.
If you have questions about clinical trials, or
cannot find a clinical trial, call the Cancer
Information Service at 1 800 4 CANCER and an
information specialist will conduct a search for
you.
I
live outside the United States. How can I get
information about clinical trials?
There are several ways to get information about
possible treatment options available in your country.
- PDQ
contains information about clinical trials in
the United States, Europe, and elsewhere.
- The
International Union Against Cancer (UICC) consists
of international cancer-related organizations
devoted to the worldwide fight against cancer.
UICC membership includes research facilities
and treatment centers, and in some countries,
ministries of health. Other members include
volunteer cancer leagues, associations, and
societies. These organizations serve as resources
for the public and may have helpful information
about cancer, treatment centers, and research
studies. To find a resource in or near you country,
contact the UICC at:
- The
European Organization for Research and Treatment
of Cancer (EORTC) maintains information about
clinical trials being conducted in European
countries. You may contact the EORTC at:
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