- You may gain access to new drugs and other treatments, sometimes years before they are widely available.
- You will have the chance to take an active role in your own healthcare.
- You will be making a valuable contribution to cancer research.
Cancer Clinical Trials – What does clinical trial mean in cancer?
Clinical trials are vital in developing new ways for the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. Through these trials, we also learn about the safety and efficacy of new therapies and medicines.
During a clinical trial, participants receive specific interventions, based on which researchers determine if those interventions are safe and effective. Interventions studied in clinical trials could be new cancer drugs or new combinations of drugs, new medical procedures, new surgical techniques or devices, new ways to use existing treatments, and even lifestyle or behavior changes.
Common kinds of clinical trials for cancer
- Cancer treatment trials test new drugs or new combinations of drugs. They also test new approaches to surgery, radiation therapy and other therapies.
- Cancer prevention trials test new ways to prevent cancer in people who have never had it or to prevent it from coming back in people who have.
- Diagnostic trials study newer ways to understand an individual person’s disease.
- Screening trials test the best ways to detect cancer.
- Quality-of-life trials explore ways to improve comfort for people who are living with cancer.
- Medical records research involves the use of information collected from medical records. By studying the medical records of large groups of people over long periods of time, researchers can see how diseases progress and which treatments work best.
Quick Facts about Clinical Trials
- Before you decide whether a clinical trial is right for you, make sure you know the facts from your treating doctor.
- Almost every cancer treatment offered to patients today is the result of a clinical trial/study.
- Patients who enroll in a clinical trial at APCC receive their treatment from a compassionate and experienced staff recognized for their focus on patient safety and care.
- We encourage our patients to consider participating in a clinical trial from the very start of their care.
- What are the potential benefits of participating in a clinical trial?
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- What are the possible risks of participating in a clinical trial?
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A clinical trial can sometimes require more time and medical attention than normal care. This can include doctor visits, phone calls, more treatments, a hospital stay, or a more complicated treatment regimen. (Ask your doctor for information about the trial you are considering.)
- Do I have to pay to be in a clinical trial?
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Typically, the patient or his or her insurance company is asked to pay for any routine tests, treatments, or procedures that would be required as part of standard cancer treatment. Before you join a clinical trial, you will receive an informed consent document that spells out exactly what you’ll have to pay for and what you won’t.
- How do I know if I’m eligible to join a clinical trial?
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All clinical trials have guidelines spelling out who can participate. These are called eligibility criteria. The factors that allow you to participate in a clinical trial can include age, gender, the type and stage of your disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions also known as inclusion criteria
- Can I quit a clinical trial?
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Yes. You can leave a clinical trial at any time and for any reason and your regular treatment will continue as it was.
- Can children participate in clinical trials?
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Yes. Children can participate in some form of clinical research during their care. Complete care is taken by our team of doctors and researchers to ensure seamless care for children taking part in a clinical trial.
- Are clinical trials safe?
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- Every clinical trial must be approved and monitored by an Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) to make sure the risks are as low as possible and are worth any potential benefits.
- Apollo Hospitals IEC includes doctors, nurses, statisticians, community advocates, and others who make sure that each clinical trial is ethical and that your rights are protected.
- Once the trial is approved by the IEC, your doctors must follow a careful plan, called a protocol, that describes exactly what will happen during the study. You will know the full details of the protocol prior to joining any clinical trial.
- What is informed consent?
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- Informed consent is the process of learning about the clinical trial before you decide to take part in it. Your doctor will explain the trial’s purpose, how long it will take, what will happen, all potential risks and benefits, and information on the privacy of your medical records.
- If you want to participate, you will sign a consent form that details all of the information that has been discussed with the research team. You will be able to take that form home and refer to it at any time. Even though you have signed the consent form, you still have the right to leave the study at any time and for any reason.
- How do I find a clinical trial for cancer?
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You can learn more about a trial and its procedures by approaching your doctor/consultant or the research officer or by clicking here (This link will enumerate the trials being conducted at APCC with a short summary comprehensible to the layman along with a mail ID or contact number to answer any queries)
Winning over Cancer with Apollo Proton Cancer Centre
A breakthrough in Cancer Care! The global growing cancer burden tells an ominous tale. To counter this growing threat, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre provides a complete and comprehensive solution. As cancer care has become one of the fastest-growing healthcare imperatives across the world, we believe it is critical to redefine our purpose, to reboot our commitment on the single-minded focus – to battle cancer, to conquer cancer! APCC stands as a ray of hope for millions, infusing them with the courage to stand and stare cancer down.
