Understanding Clinical Trials for Uterine Cancer
Patients do die of their cancers despite using the best therapies available. That fact creates a desire by both patients and doctors to do better. Advancements, though, do not happen by accident. A well thought out plan is needed to
- reduce the risk of cancer returning
- improve treatments for patients with cancers that have spread or returned
- reduce side effects of treatments
A clinical trial is a test of a new treatment. It evaluates whether it works better or causes fewer problems than current treatments.
Not everyone is eligible to take part in a clinical trial. They have rules, or criteria, for joining. Here are some of the things that are considered:
- A person’s overall health
- The type, stage, and grade of the cancer
- Types of treatments the person has already had
Ask your doctor if there’s a clinical trial you should think about joining. Your healthcare team can help you decide whether a trial might be right for you. In some cases, taking part is the only way to get a new medication or treatment. Here are two ways to find a list of trials:
- Call the National Cancer Institute’s free PDQ line at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
- Go to www.clinicaltrials.gov.
