Clinical trials

This page will help you find out more about how clinical research trials are used to treat cancer.

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are research studies that measure the effect of new cancer treatments or procedures on people.

They aim to find out if a treatment is effective, if it's safe, if it has side effects or if it works better than current treatments.

Clinical trials are carefully planned, regulated and overseen by ethics committees.

Why take part in a clinical trial?

You might want to take part in a trial to:

• Try a new drug not currently available
• Try a different way of being treated
• Help others in the future
• Try something else when other treatments have failed

How to take part in a clinical trial

You may be invited to take part in a clinical trial or you might want to ask your doctor if there are any trials suitable for you.

There is a list of current clinical trials in the UK on the Cancer Research UK website.

Is a trial right for you?

Your doctor or specialist research nurse will help you carefully consider what's involved in a clinical trial and all the possible benefits and risks.

A few questions to consider:

• Do you meet the criteria?
  Each clinical trial will have strict rules on who can take part and your doctor will tell you if you're eligible. Test results, previous treatment, age, illnesses and your general health will all be considered
• Do you understand everything that's involved?
  There may be extra tests, scans, questionnaires and visits to hospital
• Do you understand the aims of the trial and how it impacts you?
  Some trials won't benefit you directly but will help others in the future
• Are you prepared to accept the treatment you're offered?
  The design of the trial may involve random selection which means you may not get the treatment you wanted

Taking part

Before you start a trial, you must be given clear written information, the opportunity to ask questions, time to decide whether you want to take part and a consent form to sign.

During the trial you will be monitored very closely to check how you react to the treatment.

If it does not seem to be helping you then your doctor may suggest stopping the trial or swapping to another treatment.

You can leave a trial at any time and standard care and treatment will still be available.

Maggie's is here with you

Considering a clinical trial, or taking part in one, can involve a lot of extra information and it can be helpful to talk it through.

Our Cancer Support Specialists are here listen to your concerns and help you find the information and help that's right for you:

• Find your nearest Maggie's centre – you don't need an appointment, just come in

Last review: Oct 2021 | Next review: Oct 2022