Clinical Trials: Advancing Cancer Care with Patient Participation

Clinical trials are essential for developing new ways to treat, diagnose, and prevent cancer. Every breakthrough in cancer care—from innovative drug therapies to improved radiation techniques—begins with a clinical trial. However, recent research shows that only around 7% of all cancer patients participate in clinical trials, and many people from historically marginalized communities can be hesitant to participate.

Myths About Trial Participation

Contrary to popular belief, clinical trials are not just for patients who have exhausted other options. Many trials are available for newly diagnosed patients, offering access to new therapies tailored to their specific cancer type—sometimes even down to the molecular level.

Another common belief is that all treatments are tested against a placebo, and there is a chance that participants won’t receive treatment. While that can very rarely happen, most new treatments and techniques in cancer trials are tested against the current gold standard, meaning that all participants will be treated. Placebos comparisons are more common with diseases that do not currently have a treatment.

Some patients are also concerned about having to travel to participate in a trial. At Texas Oncology, we provide trials all across the state, meaning that most participants don’t have to go far from home. However, joining a clinical trial can sometimes mean additional time commitments, such as extra visits and tests to monitor the treatment. 

Finally, it won’t cost anything additional to the patient to receive the treatment in the clinical trial, but patients should discuss with their physician if there may be any other costs that pose a barrier to participation, such as missing work, arranging child- or eldercare, or budgeting for food and other necessities.

Benefits of Participation

In addition to accessing new and innovative treatments, potentially with fewer side effects, many patients see improved outcomes, prolonged survival, and enhanced quality of life. All trials follow strict compliance and monitoring guidelines in line with federal, state, and local regulations, meaning that participation is carefully supervised in addition to being fully voluntary.

Considering a clinical trial also means taking an active role in developing a treatment plan. All trials involve informed consent, meaning that patients must understand what the trial is testing for, how the study compares the test group and control group, and what other alternatives are available to patients. Providers and clinical trial coordinators will also walk patients through any potential risks. For example, the outcomes may be uncertain, the treatment may cause unwanted side effects, or the cancer may continue to progress despite treatment.

Any patients interested in participating should talk to their oncologist. (Read “Three Questions to Ask Your Oncologist About Clinical Trials.”) All trials have specific eligibility requirements, which are as inclusive as possible in order to better understand how treatment works for different ages, genders, health conditions, ethnicities, and lifestyles. A patient’s medical history, stage of cancer, and previous treatments will all be considered before enrolling them in the trial.

Ultimately, clinical trial participation can benefit both the patient and the field of cancer research. Every patient who participates in a clinical trial is helping all the cancer patients that come after them.