Learning you have cancer, or that cancer has returned, is shocking news. After you begin to wrap your mind around it your main focus is probably, “How can I beat this?” In most situations, your oncologist begins treatments using established, proven cancer treatment protocols based on the specific type of cancer you have been diagnosed with. For some people, the most commonly effective cancer treatments don't work as expected, and in these cases, your cancer specialist may recommend enrolling in a cancer clinical trial. Should you do this? Find out more about cancer research done right in your community.
Oftentimes clinical trials involve fine-tuning an already FDA-approved cancer treatment. It’s only through clinical research that new cancer treatment options are available -- and more often now than ever before. Plus, cancer researchers are finding ways to use or combine existing FDA-approved cancer treatments for other types of cancer or situations. But before these new options can be made available to everyone, they undergo a careful and extensive testing process through clinical trials.
There are four primary clinical trial phases:
Most cancer patients who participate in clinical trials at Compass Oncology join a cancer research trial that is in Phase 3 or 4. The studies are considered safe for patients and offer cancer treatment options when others aren’t working effectively.
You and your oncologist can discuss the possible option of a clinical trial when discussing treatment options. Trials are not right for all patients. But if there is a clinical trial that would be right for you, and you agree to participate, you may be more carefully monitored throughout the entire process of treatment. This may require more visits than a typical patient would have, but it can be a good feeling to see your cancer care team more often as you progress through treatment.
The research team may also contact you regularly after treatment is complete to see how effective it is in the long run. Typically there’s no extra cost to the patient for this additional care. The clinical research team will carefully go over this with you.
Fighting cancer is physically and emotionally draining. Participating in a clinical trial shouldn’t add to your stress level, but it’s normal for you and your family to wonder if it’s going to work and if it’s safe. Rest assured, before a cancer treatment is available in a clinical trial at Compass Oncology, it has already been studied extensively. Oncologists wouldn't administer it to humans if they didn’t believe it would be safe. But be sure that you and your caretakers are on-board with the process and what you’ll need to do to participate before agreeing.
If you’re considering participating in a clinical cancer trial, discuss your questions, concerns and expectations with the cancer research experts and your oncologist at the cancer treatment center. Some questions to ask include:
At Compass Oncology we sponsor more clinical trials than any other cancer treatment facility in the Portland-Vancouver area. At any given time, we have more than 70 active trials and have been a part of bringing several new cancer therapies to patients across the country. If you’re interested in learning about clinical trials appropriate for your specific cancer diagnosis, we encourage you to visit our Clinical Trials & Research at Compass Oncology.