Dispelling Clinical Trial Myths

(National Cancer Institute photo)

Myth One

Myth: Cancer clinical trials are for people who have no other options.

Fact: Trials are often another option that offers a treatment plan that may better a ddress the patient's needs and continue their quality of life.

Myth Two

Myth: I will receive inferior treatment.

Fact: Clinical trials often are an option for a different and possibly better or more effective treatment.

Myth Three

Myth: I am a human guinea pig.

Fact: Institutional Review Boards comprised of local physicians, nurses, ethics and legal experts, and community leaders must approve all clinical trials and the informed consent documents before they are approved for people to participate in. These boards have the responsibility to assure that there are no unreasonable risks, compared to the benefits to the human subject. Most clinical trials testing new drug treatments have already been tested in labs in animals and humans.

Myth Four

Myth: Trials always include a placebo or "sugar" pill.

Fact: Placebos are used only when there is no standard care treatment already available. Placebos are rarely used in cancer clinical trials. They are never used in the place of the standard care treatment already given. Any clinical trial that involves a test group that will receive no treatment must inform participants in advance that the trial has a placebo arm.

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For More Information

Visit the National Cancer Institute's education page about cancer clinical trials at:
 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning
 

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