The benefits, drawbacks of clinical trials

Q: What are the possible benefits and drawbacks of clinical trials?

A: Taking part in a clinical trial can have many benefits. You can gain access to promising approaches before they're widely available.

If you're in a trial and don't get the new strategy being tested, you still receive the standard care for your condition. You will also have the support of a team of providers, who will be monitoring your health very closely.

Participants can advance medicine and health care in general.

The breast cancer treatments we have now - including Herceptin, tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, and taxanes - are available because large numbers of women participated in trials to test them. Such trials are especially attractive to patients who have run out of options.

One of the most common concerns with research participation is the perception that the medication has never been taken before. This is generally not the case. All medications go through several stages of research to assess their safety before they are tested on people with the disorder.

The trial process is not risk-free. Investigators can anticipate many of the side effects of a new treatment, but sometimes not all. Yet standard cancer treatments also have side effects. Participants may also need to make more doctor visits than normal.

Deciding to participate in a trial can make you feel as if you have more control over your situation, and new treatments may be more effective than standard options.

You can search for trials at http://clinicaltrials.gov/

- Dr. Archit A. Naik