Clinical Trials

If there was a research trial that existed for me, I am sure my cancer physician and team would have discussed it with me. They always discuss all of my options.

Research trials always involve “experimental”, non-FDA approved, treatments and we don’t know how they will work or what side effects they may cause. I don’t want to be the “guinea pig”.

There’s a good chance I could receive a fake, placebo treatment on a research trial.

Research is expensive and experimental, so my insurance may deny coverage.

I might not know which treatment I am on (“Blinded”) and I won’t have any control on which treatment I receive. I may be randomized to a treatment I don’t want to be on or forced to stay on a trial after I signed consent.

Research trials are only considered when all other treatment options have failed and you can only go on one research trial.

I may lose time on a research trial when I could have been on an approved treatment to better control the cancer.

Research treatments are only trying to make patients live longer without regard to quality of life.

I may have to leave my current cancer physician to participate in a research trial and I like him/her.

Someone other than my cancer physician will be making my treatment decisions.

I am fearful that the pharmaceutical company is using me as a guinea pig and that the research trial has not been evaluated by professionals outside of the company.

I only want FDA approved treatments because those are proven to work in all patients and have no side effects.

If a research trial is effective, then it will become FDA approved. I will wait until then.