Clinical Trials
You may want to take part in a clinical trial. These are studies of different kinds of treatment. Doctors conduct them to learn how well new treatments work. They also learn the side effects. If you take part in one, you may benefit from a new treatment. You also would make an important contribution to medical science. That could help future cancer patients.
There are many on-going studies for breast cancer. One involves a sentinel lymph node biopsy. This procedure may lessen the number of lymph nodes that need to be removed to determine the prognosis or stage. It might help fewer women get lymphedema. Researchers are also testing new chemotherapy doses. And they are looking at treatment schedules. In addition, they are looking at new ways to combine treatments. They are also working with new drug combinations.
There are studies of new ways to use radiation therapy before, during, and after chemotherapy. Some researchers are looking at how effective chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy are for patients whose cancer does not respond to other treatment. If you are thinking of taking part in a clinical trial, you should discuss your options with your doctor.