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Cancer research trials are carried out to find new and better treatments for cancer. Trials that are carried out on patients are known as clinical trials|.
These may be carried out to:
Trials are the only reliable way to find out if a different operation, type of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatment is better than what is already available.
You may be asked to take part in a treatment research trial. There can be many benefits of doing this. Trials help to improve knowledge about cancer and develop new treatments. You will be carefully monitored during and after the study.
Usually, several hospitals around the country take part in these trials. It’s important to bear in mind that some treatments that look promising at first are often later found not to be as good as existing treatments or to have side effects that outweigh the benefits.
If you decide not to take part in a trial, your decision will be respected and you don’t have to give a reason. However, it can help to let the staff know your concerns so that they can give you the best advice. There will be no change in the way that you’re treated by the hospital staff, and you’ll be offered the standard treatment for your situation.
Blood and bone marrow or tumour samples may be taken to help make the right diagnosis. You may be asked for your permission to use some of your samples for research into cancer. If you’re taking part in a trial, you may also be asked to give other samples. These may be frozen and stored for future use, when new research techniques become available. These samples will have your name removed from them so you can’t be identified.
The research may be carried out at the hospital where you are treated, or at another one. This type of research takes a long time, so you are unlikely to hear the results. The samples will, however, be used to increase knowledge about the causes of cancer and its treatment. This research will hopefully improve the outlook for future patients.
If you’ve had a total hysterectomy for womb cancer and are due to have radiotherapy, you may be asked to take part in a trial called PORTEC3. This trial aims to find out whether giving chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy after surgery can help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
After surgery, half of the women in the trial will be given radiotherapy and the other half will have a combination of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Your doctor or specialist nurse will explain more about the trial if it is appropriate for you.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.