Stand Up To Cancer - Clinical Trials: Cancer Clinical Trials

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Cancer Clinical Trials

Research is changing the way cancer is being treated. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, a clinical trial may offer access to the latest and most promising science, while helping to light the path for future survivors.

Learn more and talk to your doctor to see if a clinical trial may be the best choice for you.

FIND A TRIAL
For Patients & Caregivers  >  Clinical Trials

A Fundamental Path To Progress

"I didn’t know at the time whether it was going to help me or not, or whether I would still be around afterwards, but I felt like participating in a clinical trial could help the women that came after me.”
Jamie Crase
Stage IV Ovarian Cancer Survivor, Phase I Trial Participant

What Is A Clinical Trial?

“Cancer clinical trials = standard of care + hope.”
Carlos L. Arteaga, MD
UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
Stand Up To Cancer Scientific Advisory Committee

Finding Better Treatments

Cancer clinical trials allow researchers to study innovative and potentially life-saving new treatments. The goal is to find treatments that are better than what’s currently available.
Placebos are rarely used in cancer treatment clinical trials. If participants don’t receive the study medication, they are always given the best available treatment for their particular cancer. This helps the researchers determine whether the study medication is better than the standard treatment.
HOW CLINICAL TRIALS WORK

Why Participate

Virtually every other therapy currently on the market was studied and made possible by people participating in clinical trials. Very few adult cancer patients join a trial. Many cancer clinical trials don’t get completed because not enough people participate. Without enough patient data, a promising treatment might never get approved.

Clinical trials offer a source of hope—for you and those who follow in your shoes. But without volunteers, advances in therapy are stalled. It’s important that trials include people from all ethnicities, backgrounds and walks of life so researchers can see how different people respond to a study treatment.

 

Everyone is on their own unique cancer journey.
Those who join a trial do so for their own reasons...
"Knowing that I was receiving the most advanced treatment regimen for myself and also providing invaluable information to the medical community gave me a great sense of ease during one of the most difficult times in my life."
Wes Schertz
Melanoma Survivor, Clinical Trial Participant

Common Questions

CAN I BE TREATED LOCALLY?LEARN MORE
HOW IS MY TREATMENT PAID FOR?LEARN MORE
COULD I GET A PLACEBO?LEARN MORE
ARE TRIALS A LAST RESORT?LEARN MORE
ARE TRIALS SAFE?LEARN MORE
WILL I BE A GUINEA PIG?LEARN MORE
WILL I NEED TO HAVE A BIOPSY?LEARN MORE

What To Expect

Generally, you can find a trial in one of three ways:

  1. Learn about trials from your doctor.
  2. Ask your doctor about the possibility of participating in a trial and if they can help you search for one.
  3. You can find a trial of interest and talk to your doctor about reaching out to the study center directly.

You or a loved one must work with your doctor to get enrolled. If you find a trial, discuss it with your doctor, and then they can initiate the process of getting you enrolled.

The following chart describes the Clinical Trials process from start to finish. Each clinical trial has its own protocol and may require different types of procedures along the way. Hover on the images below to see the common set of steps patients take for most clinical trials.
Identify
Trial
LEARN MORE

Identify a trial that may be right for you, a loved one or a patient.

ConsiderationLEARN MORE

During this phase the patient should review the trial with their physician, and consider any recommendations before giving the go-ahead to proceed to the next step.

Informed
Consent
LEARN MORE

The patient meets with a research nurse or an assigned medical professional, that will walk the patient through the details of the trial and everything involved in the process, so there are no surprises. Once this is complete they will review necessary documents with the patient and have them sign the informed consent.

Pre-Screening
And Pre-Testing
LEARN MORE

This step includes any pre-treatment scans, labs, biopsies, and any surgeries (such as port installation, tumor reduction, etc.) needed to participate in the trial. This step is often where some patients decide not to move forward.

TreatmentLEARN MORE

During this phase participants will receive the specified clinical trial treatment which may include chemo, radiation and other drugs. Participants may also receive scans, biopsies, and blood tests during this phase.

Post-Treatment
Testing
LEARN MORE

After treatment is complete the patient will receive scans, blood work and/or biopsies to evaluate their progress and prognosis as needed.

Follow UpLEARN MORE

This phase may involve exams, scans, blood work and biopsies for a determined amount of time after treatment to evaluate the patient’s progress.

ReleaseLEARN MORE

When a patient is released from treatment they typically meet with their oncologist to receive a care plan.

Types Of Treatments

LEARN MORE

Resources

Your doctor and their office staff can direct you to a variety of helpful resources to support you on your cancer journey. Here are a few resources to get you started:
Questions To Ask
Whether you’re thinking about joining a trial or are already in the process of enrolling in a trial, here are some questions you may want to ask.
LEARN MORE
Support Services
Stand Up To Cancer is proud to stand beside these organizations that provide help to patients with financial, transportation, lodging and other needs.
FIND A RESOURCE
Terms You Might Hear
You might hear many new words while thinking about a clinical trial.
Learn More
Find A Trial

Take The Next Step: Find A Trial

Speak to an expert. Stand Up To Cancer is pleased to connect interested parties with Carebox, a free and confidential trial matching service that will help guide you through a search and referral process to find a clinical trial that may be right for you.

There are several ways to search and find a trial. You can fill out a questionnaire, call a toll free number to speak with a Carebox representative, or fill out a form and someone will be in touch with you.

FIND A TRIAL

Fill out a short online questionnaire to identify clinical trials near you that fit your specific diagnosis, stage and treatment history.

 

We can also update you when new studies open that match your profile.

SEARCH

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Find A Clinical Trial

SU2C Catalyst®
Learn about Stand Up To Cancer’s SU2C Catalyst clinical trials.
SU2C CATALYST

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