Benefits and risks
Clinical trials can transform the way we treat cancer. They’re how we test new drugs, new procedures and new diagnostics here at the UK Markey Cancer Center and other leading cancer centers around the world.
Without clinical trials, we wouldn’t have the treatments we have today. With trials, we continue to push the boundaries of discovery and innovation.
Why a clinical trial?
There are a lot of reasons we may recommend a clinical trial for you. Your doctor and the rest of your care team carefully consider your best treatment options. We weigh all the benefits and risks and recommend what we think are the best options. Sometimes we feel the best option is a trial. There could be for several reasons for this:
- You might have a rare or aggressive form of cancer without many treatment options.
- Your cancer might not respond to standard treatments.
- Standard treatments may have worked for a while but then stopped working for you.
How we keep you informed
Every clinical trial comes with its own list of benefits and risks. We make sure you know all about those benefits and risks before you agree to participate. It’s a process called informed consent.
Before you join a trial, you’ll get all the information about it in an easy-to-read format. A research team member — usually a doctor or nurse — will review every step with you to make sure you understand. You’ll also get the chance to ask questions at any time.
You can take this information home with you. Review the trial information with your loved ones and share it with your primary care doctor or local oncologist if you want.
An Institutional Review Board oversees the information we give you. This board’s job is to ensure your safety and monitor all of the research teams at the University of Kentucky and Markey Cancer Center.
Benefits and risks of clinical trials
Possible benefits and risks will depend on the type of trial. There are risks with every trial, just like there are risks with any standard treatment or medication for cancer or anything else.
Remember that you can leave a clinical trial anytime and for any reason. Or for no reason at all. The choice is up to you, always.
Possible benefits:
- You might get the chance to try a new treatment you can’t get outside of a clinical trial.
- You get an extra layer of care from your research team on top of the exceptional care you already get as a patient.
- Your participation helps us learn more about your cancer and might help future patients.
Possible risks:
- The treatment offered through the trial might not work for you.
- You might have unwanted side effects.
- The trial may require more doctor visits and tests than the standard treatment (this is usually the case).
Most people who participate in a clinical trial do better than those who don’t participate. We don’t always know why that is. It could be because people in trials get that added layer of observation from an even larger team. But be assured that whether you’re in a trial or not, your team at Markey Cancer Center will look out for your best interests.
