Participating in Clinical Trials: The Invitation

Reasons for participating in a clinical trial can vary with the individual. Although there are no guarantees, clinical trials offer potential benefit, directly and indirectly. Patients receive either a promising new treatment or the best available conventional treatment. The hope is patients will directly benefit from the trial. Regardless of personal results, trial participation will provide useful information to the medical community and for future patients. Some of the most effective cancer treatments available today are the result of a clinical trial.

As a safety measure, only eligible patients are invited to participate. If potentially eligible, your physician and research staff will discuss the trial in detail. If you wish to participate, you should understand the purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits of the trial. You are encouraged to ask questions or explain anything you don’t understand. This process is known as informed consent. You may take home an unsigned copy of the consent form to think about or discuss with family or friends before making your decision. Once you understand the study and decide you would like to participate, you will be asked to sign the consent form and will be given a copy. Your physician and research nurse will closely monitor your care and potential side effects throughout the trial. During your participation in the trial, any new findings that might affect your decision to remain in the study will be communicated to you.

None of your rights are waived by participating in a clinical trail. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. If you should decide to withdraw, your decision will not affect your access to medical care in the future.