Why Participate in Cancer Clinical Trials

Clinical research depends on people who are willing to participate in clinical trials as research subjects. Clinical trials test the best way to treat, prevent and control cancer. The progress made today through the clinical trials process improves tomorrow's standard care medicine.

Only 3% to 5% of adult cancer patients actually participate in cancer clinical trials while approximately 20% may be eligible. The rate of clinical trials participation determines how fast we advance the science. Educating the public and increasing their awareness of cancer clinical trials is the first step towards increasing clinical trials participation.

What's important about participating in a clinical trial offered through the Colorado Cancer Research Program?

• The primary sponsor of the clinical trials offered through the Colorado Cancer Research Program (CCRP) is National Cancer Institute (NCI). These are NCI Phase II and Phase III cancer clinical trials.
  
  
• Clinical trials offer cancer patients a treatment option. Becoming informed is taking an active part in your decision-making. All clinical trials are not the best treatment choice for all patients.
  
  
• Taking part in a cancer clinical trial is one way to receive high quality care from cancer specialists. Trained research specialists carefully and continually monitor clinical trial participants.
  
  
• In Phase III trials, the clinical trials participant receives the best available current treatment or a new approach that doctors believe may work better than the standard method.
  
  
• Taking part in a clinical trial means the individuals are among the first to receive the latest drugs, procedures, and treatment or prevention approaches before the treatment is publicly available.