Abreast and the Rest Home Page
Fall 2010 Vol.2 No.4


Feature

Victoria Falls and the Beauty of Contradictions
Medical News
Ultra-Radical Surgery for Ovarian Cancer
Healthy Living
Vegetarianism - What Does it Mean to You?
Journeys
Making a Difference!
Insight Into Women's Cancer
Understanding Clinical Trials
Hot Flashes
Prosthesis or Bust
Complementary Corner
Choosing to Smile
What's Going On
Upcoming Events
Resource Guide
Books, Videos and Websites
Sponsors
Companies committed to Patient Information
Contact Info
get on our mailing lists


YES!

I want to know when a new edition of Abreast & the Rest is published!



Notifications will arrive quarterly via email. Your privacy is protected, this is the only thing your email will be used for.

    

Understanding Clinical Trials

Cancer treatment studies are designed to answer questions about new treatments or to investigate ways of improving existing or established treatments. These trials test many types of treatments such as:
  • New drugs or vaccines
  • New ways to give radiation therapy
  • New combination of treatments


What are clinical trials?

Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. They are the final step in a long process that begins with research in a lab followed by many years of testing, before becoming available to patients in clinical trials. Only the most promising new treatments reach the clinical trial stage. Treatments used today are the result of past clinical trials. In research, clinical trials are designed to answer questions about new ways to:
  • Treat cancer
  • Find and diagnose cancer
  • Prevent cancer
  • Manage symptoms of cancer

The goal of clinical trials is to improve patient care. Doctors do not receive additional compensation should a patient decide to participate in a clinical trial.

Who can join a clinical trial?

Your doctors will know which trials are available and will advise whether you meet the eligibility criteria set out in the study. The eligibility criteria are a set of guidelines used to identify the right participants for the study and ensure the safety of all participants. Blood tests and scans may also be used to determine if you are suitable for the trial.

Participation

The choice to enter a clinical trial rests completely with the patient as does the decision to withdraw from the study at any time. If a person wished to stop the treatment for whatever reason, care will not change or be compromised due to this decision.

Placebo - What is it? Will I get it?

A placebo or a sugar pill is an inactive form of a study medication which resembles the real medication. Some clinical trials use a placebo, others do not. In cancer trials, no patient goes without care if there is a known treatment that could be beneficial. If a study includes a placebo, they would be made aware of this before there is agreement to participate in the study.

Pros and cons of participating

Choosing to join a clinical trial is a decision which is individual to the patient but they may wish to discuss this with family and friends as well as doctors and nurses. As a treatment option, a clinical trial has possible benefits as well as drawbacks.

Possible benefits:
  • If a new treatment is proven to work and you are taking it, you will be one of the first to benefit from the results.
  • You are taking active part in a decision that affects your life
  • You have a chance to help others.


Possible drawbacks:
  • New treatments under study are not always better than, or even as good as, standard care.
  • New treatments may have side effects that doctors do not expect or the side effects may be worse than the standard treatment.
  • Many trials require more testing and monitoring than standard treatments.


Questions to ask
  • Why is this trial being done?
  • What are the other options? What are the pros and cons of these options?
  • What kinds of tests and treatments does the study involve? How often?
  • How will this affect daily life?
  • What side effects might be expected?
  • How long does the study last?
  • What type of long-term follow up care is part of the study?


To find out more about clinical trials speak to your doctor or nurses. This information was derived from the BC Cancer Agency patient information brochure entitled Clinical Trails.

Archived Insight Into Women's Cancer Pages
Summer 2011 Vol.2 No. 3  ART AND HEALING  Gretchen Ladd, BFA, RCAT, Visual Artist and Art Therapist
Spring 2011 Vol.2 No. 2  Research Update for Breast Cancer  Dr. Caroline Lohrisch, FRCPC
Winter 2011 Vol.2 No.1  Transitioning from Patient to Survivor  Nancy Payeur, MSW, RSW Regional Clinical Coordinator
Fall 2010 Vol.1 No.4  Making Decisions about Complementary Medicine (CAM)  Dr. Lynda Balneaves, RN PhD, & Brenda Ross, RN BScN
Summer 2010 Vol.1 No. 3  My Anything but Ordinary Journey  Karen Janes & Gina MacKenzie - Patient & Family Counselling
Spring 2010 Vol.1 No. 2  Regaining Our Equilibrium  Sydney Foran, MSW Clinical Social Worker
Winter 2010 Volume 01 No.1  Gynecological Cancer in the Family  Barbara Boyd and Mary McCullum
Fall 2009 Vol. 10 No. 4  The Inner and Outer Life  Janie Brown
Summer 2009 Vol.10 No.3  Insurance Discrimination & Hereditary Cancer  Barbara Boyd, MSc, CGC, CCGC
Spring 2009 Vol.10 No. 2  Research News from San Antonio 2008  Dr. Tamara Shenkier, FRCPC
Winter 2009 Vol.10 No.1  A Legacy Gift  Danielle Schroeder
Fall 2008 Vol. 9 No. 4  Creating Balance & Resiliency through Mindfulness  Catherine Traer-Martinez, MEd, RCC, Clinical Counselor
Summer 2008 Vol.9 No.3  Research at the BC Cancer Agency: Gaining Molecular Knowledge into Breast Cancer  Jennifer Wolfe, Wolfe Communications
Spring 2008 Vol.9 No.2  To Test or Not to Test? Implications for Hereditary Testing  Jenna Scott, MS, CGC
Winter 2008 Vol.9 No.1  Post Breast Therapy Pain  Dr. Pippa Hawley FRCPC, Pain & Symptom Management Specialist
Fall 2007 Vol. 8 No. 4  breast cancer now what?
(Uniting young women with breast cancer) 
Summer 2007 Vol.8 No.3  Returning To Work: Emotional Preparation   Maureen Parkinson, M.Ed C.C.R.C. & Lina Crossin, Masters Candidate
Spring 2007 Vol. 8 No. 2  Returning to Work- Things to Consider  Maureen Parkinson
Winter 2007 Vol. 8 No.1  Finding Authenticity  Sarah Sample, MSW, RSW
Fall 2006 Vol. 6 No. 4  Digital Mammography  Dr. Patricia Hassell, MDCM FRCP, Screening Radiologist
Summer 2006 Vol.7 No.3  Highlights from ASCO  Dr. Karen Gelmon, MD, FRCPC
Spring 2006 Vol. 7 No. 2  Survivor's Guilt   Dawn Turpin
Winter 2006 Vol. 7 No.1  The Latest Advances in Adjuvant Therapy  Dr. Susan Ellard
Fall 2005 Vol. 6 No. 4  Finding Better Quality of Life in "Chemo Cocktails"  By Laurene Clark, Patient Advocate, Victoria, BC
Summer 2005 Vol. 6 No. 3  An Update on Breast Cancer Research  Dr. Caroline Lorisch MD, FRCPC
Spring 2005 Vol. 6 No. 2  Disclosing Your Cancer Experience at Work  Maureen Parkinson, Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor, BC Cancer Agency Vancouver
Winter 2005 Vol. 6 No. 1  Change and Transition  Sherri Magee Ph.D. & Kathy Scalzo M.S.O.D
Summer 2004 Vol. 5 No. 3  Anemia and Breast Cancer  Dr. Barbara Melosky, MD FRCPC
Fall 2003 Vol.4 No.4  The Reconstruction of Breasts   Peter Lennox, MD, FRCSC & Patty Clugston, MD, FRCSC
Fall 2002 Vol.3 No.4  Living with the Fear of Recurrence: The Courage to Find Peace of Mind  Janie Brown, RN, MSW, MA(Psych).
Summer 2002 Vol.3 No.3  A Relationship After Breast Cancer?  Sandra Rotholc, M.S.W., R.M.F.T
Fall 2001 Vol.2 No.4  Menopause & Breast Cancer (part 2)   Joelle Machia, RN BSN BA
Summer 2001 Vol.2 No.3  Menopause and Breast Cancer   Joelle Machia, RN BSN BA,
Home |  Feature |  Medical News |  Healthy Living |  Journeys |  Insight |  Hot Flashes |  Complementary Corner
What's Going On |  Resource Guide |  Sponsors |  Contact Info