Clinical trials are designed to answer important questions and to find out whether the new approach is safe and effective. Often, clinical trials compare a new method with a widely accepted approach.
People who join clinical trials have the first chance to benefit from new approaches. They also make an important contribution to medicine by helping doctors learn more about the disease. Although clinical trials may pose some risks, researchers take many steps to protect their patients.
Women who are interested in being part of a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. NCI's Web site includes a section on clinical trials at http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials with general information about clinical trials as well as detailed information about specific ongoing studies of breast cancer. The Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER or LiveHelp at http://cancer.gov can answer questions and provide information about clinical trials. Another source of information is the NCI's Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU), which enables many more doctors and their patients to take part in large clinical trials. Patients can learn more about the trials at http://www.ctsu.org.
